THINKSHEET TOPICS

Thinksheet 1: Discuss the hero in Beowulf in relation to one of the following:
1. Unferth's challenge: lines 499 +
2. Beowulf's decision to fight the dragon.  See esp. lines 2529+

3. The role of women in the text

THINKSHEET 2

Choose ONE of the following:

1. Where do you think Beowulf should be divided?  Should it be divided into two sections (Grendel and the Dragon) or three (Grendel, Grendel's Mother , and the Dragon)?  Write a few paragraphs taking a position on this point and explaining why.

2. How do you interpret the meaning of the monsters in this poem?  What do the monsters represent?

THINKSHEET 3
In the "Pardoner's Tale," Chaucer explores the question of whether an immoral person can tell a moral tale.  Using details from the text, discuss the extent to which this is true.